Thoughts on thursday night game

[DaddyMac]

I agree. The UNI games skew the numbers in favor of Sat games. Even then, it is a wash, some fans will be happy, some will not. Assuming the difference in fan utility (weighting each fan equally) is not appreciable, is ISU maximizing its potential profit/benefit? Thursday games may turn-off more of the demographic that brings in the money (it would be nice to see which tickets are used), but JP must feel the chance for TV hedges this. If this is true, you could say it has not worked out. Anyone know if the coaches like starting the season a little early?

Not argueing here....

But has this game ever been seen outside the state of Iowa? Last year did FSN North pick it up perhaps, or some other station regional station? Seems to me that it's on MediaCom if at all. Is MediaCom paying anything for this?

I'm sure the coaches are either like to indifferent about it. Can't imagine that they'd flat out oppose it. Can't argue that they would most certainly like the extra two days to prep for game two, presuming people are right and they get to start a bit earlier and aren't shorted for game one.

 

[alarson]

Sorry about the Toledo part, editing mistake.
Like you said, both seasons had emotional reasons that would favor an uptick (high expectations in 06, new coach in 07), but only 07 achieved this. Having a new coach skews the Thursday attendance, but it also boosts the season average as well. Playing UNI/KU skews the attendance figures in favor of Sat. I assume you discredit that as well?

For the record, living out-of-state, I prefer the game to be on Sat.

Yes, i would agree on UNI. Actually, KU wasnt that great attendance-wise, iirc.. but i believe it was the 2nd game of the season (the first was at Arrowhead). I think the biggest reason for the uptick in 07 is the season tickets. We sold a ton more that year.

The point im trying to make is that the big reason that those who support thursdays give for changing it to there from saturday is that attendance is better. If the statistics really havent supported that (they pretty much show a wash), why are we still having them on thursdays every time? Id be fine with mixing it up a bit and having thursday games sometimes.. just not EVERY time.

Also, aside from attendance, im sure most would agree that one of the biggest elements that makes cyclone gameday great is the tailgating atmosphere. Nobody can argue that on thursday night games, that it is pretty much killed due to how many are coming only an hour or two before kickoff (at most- i left work, drove, spent forever in the traffic jam due to everyone coming from DSM at the same time, parked, and walked right into the stadium last year. it sucked). That is something that you dont need attendance numbers to establish. Just come out there about 2pm and see how empty the lots are compared to what theyd be for a saturday night.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

The point im trying to make is that the big reason that those who support thursdays give for changing it to there from saturday is that attendance is better. If the statistics really havent supported that (they pretty much show a wash), why are we still having them on thursdays every time? Id be fine with mixing it up a bit and having thursday games sometimes.. just not EVERY time.

Also, aside from attendance, im sure most would agree that one of the biggest elements that makes cyclone gameday great is the tailgating atmosphere. Nobody can argue that on thursday night games, that it is pretty much killed due to how many are coming only an hour or two before kickoff (at most- i left work, drove, spent forever in the traffic jam due to everyone coming from DSM at the same time, parked, and walked right into the stadium last year. it sucked). That is something that you dont need attendance numbers to establish. Just come out there about 2pm and see how empty the lots are compared to what theyd be for a saturday night.

I have faith that, if the attendance numbers are a wash, that the $$$ numbers are not (or at least were not projected to be). Maybe for some it is blind faith, but JP and Co have access to way better decision variables than I, and he has proven to at least be OK in generating $$.
I have never been able to tailgate for ISU games, so I have no idea, but that is probably an area where fan utility is not a wash. I guess if ISU's utility is better on Thursday, even though the tailgating is not as good, I am OK with it. Hopefully the long term consequences of weaker tailgating for one game (if there are any) is factored into the measure of ISU's utility. Now, if ISU would sell beer..

 

[bigcyfan82]

I used to hate it. When I was in High School, it was the death of me. I had to stay home because I had a football game the next day (friday). And there was no way I was going to that because if I didn't get a good nights sleep I knew I would play like ****.

Now that i'm here in Ames, it really doesn't bother me to much. Other than the fact that I'm going to be skipping my classes on thursday. Hope my Philosophy 230 instructor and MGMT 370 instructors are big football fans and decide to NOT have class that day, because either way...i'm not going! ha

 

[swarthmoreCY]

I used to hate it. When I was in High School, it was the death of me. I had to stay home because I had a football game the next day (friday). And there was no way I was going to that because if I didn't get a good nights sleep I knew I would play like ****.

Now that i'm here in Ames, it really doesn't bother me to much. Other than the fact that I'm going to be skipping my classes on thursday. Hope my Philosophy 230 instructor and MGMT 370 instructors are big football fans and decide to NOT have class that day, because either way...i'm not going! ha

Should have taken a half day on Friday in high school.:smile:

 

[Clones21]

I love this game..my dad and I are heading up right when i get out of school..tailgating for a few hours and then im missing school on friday to spend the day with my dad!! Good family time

 

[zach]

Taking a day and a half vacation and will be there...

Go State!

Z

 

[isuno1fan]

I say we move it to Wednesday!

 

[MontyBurns]

A lot of you are talking about attendance. Well back a few years ago now, we had our last opener on a Saturday nite. We drew 44,000 plus to the game. The next year we sold MORE season tickets and had a Thursday nite home opener. We drew 42,000 plus to the game.

Don't forget that the SDSU game also had a bump in attendance because we sold single game tickets -- seats, not hillsides -- for $10. Just like we're doing for NDSU.

 

[CyStorm]

I don't like them because I always have football of my own to worry about. I live 2 hours away which makes it virtually impossible to make it to the game, while my father and mother get to go. Next year I won't have to worry about it because I will Be On campus, but I take pride in never missing a home game. But if it puts fans in the seats and idealy our team on the tube then the whole thing is bigger than me and I am for it.:wink:

 

[aauummm]

I'll start tailgating at 5 PM Wednesday in D2 and go home Friday Morning. I'll have a great time hanging out with a great bunch of fellow ISU RV tailgaters and maybe even have a brew or two Wednesday night. The weather should be perfect and there's nothing better than two days and two nights living on "hallowed" ground (while not being a student)! I'm taking ISU by 21.

 

[ndstate]

Not that my opinion should count at all on the ISU board but as a visiting fan I HATE the Thursday game. I would have to take a day off to get there for a Saturday game, but its tough to justify 3 days off for the Thursday game.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

I don't think the Thursday night game is such a big deal. I understand that it's not exactly convenient for some people, but there are people on here who complain about Saturday morning games & how those conflict with their kids' athletic activities. You're not going to please everybody.

Maybe it's just me, but I see two good reasons to play this game on Thursday.

1.) It's a nice bone to throw the students' way on Labor Day weekend. The atmosphere in the stadium is definitely much better when the student sections are packed.

2.) It gives the team a couple of extra days to heal up & game plan for Iowa.

 

[MontyBurns]

Not that my opinion should count at all on the ISU board but as a visiting fan I HATE the Thursday game. I would have to take a day off to get there for a Saturday game, but its tough to justify 3 days off for the Thursday game.

There are a couple of positives for playing on Thursday --

It keeps the visiting team from sending as many fans as would attend a weekend game, and it takes the visiting teams' players out of class for two days.